I powered through that loveliness and went on, “I’ll take that steak dinner, but if Emily’s down with me using her kitchen, I can scramble some eggs and make toast and even pancakes or something. Definitely I could throw together some sandwiches or big salads for lunch. And I’ve got a full repertoire of dinner selections.”
He was suddenly frowning.
So I asked, “What?”
“Is this your attempt to pay me back?”
Jeez.
This guy.
“No, Battle, this is what normal people without cooks and butlers and housekeepers do. They make their own food. Anyway, not only do I love to cook, it’d be a dream to cook in Emily’s kitchen. It’s a chef’s kitchen, for one. But for another, I’m a history junkie. Cooking in a space that has fed countless dukes and duchesses, earls and countesses, barons and baronesses, etcetera, would be so fun.”
“You’re certain?”
“Yes, Battle, I’m certain.”
“Not tonight, I’m looking forward to a curry, or fish and chips, or tomorrow, but you can have Sunday and Monday, if it’s your wish.”
“Awesome,” I replied, then asked, “So, Tempie manages the staff at The Downs?”
“Tempie manages The Downs.”
Interesting response.
“Is there a distinction?”
“No and yes. The no part being she does indeed manage the staff, insofar as they need managing, which they don’t. Fitzy and Patsy take care of everything, but they do report to Tempie. Tempie handles payroll. And manages the house books, alongside Fitzy. She also manages all the enterprises of The Downs.”
“The enterprises?”
He glanced at me. “We let some of our fields to adjacent farmers. She deals with that. However, The Downs for centuries has had a herd of Lincoln Longwool sheep. We raise them, sell the wool. Or the shepherds who Tempie hires raise them. We also own six attached buildings on the High Street in the village. We let the ground floors for shops and the upper floors as flats. Tempie manages those as well. The duchy further owns four cottages at the northernmost end of our property. They used to be tenant cottages. She manages those lets as well. The Downs is an income-producing property, and Tempie has responsibility for all of it. She’s essentially our steward.”
“She’s the steward?”
“Yes.”
“So she gets email sent to the steward?”
“I have a member of staff who vets any email coming into The Downs for such purposes, so she doesn’t have to wade through the chaff. But yes, if it’s actionable, she gets it.”
“So it was Tempie who forwarded my email to Prue,” I mumbled.
“I’m sorry?”
“That’s how I met Prue. I got my hands on the steward’s email and mine was forwarded to Prue.”
“Tempie probably knew she enjoyed your books.”
Undoubtedly.
This meant Tempie had a job, and it was a big one. Chassie used to have a flourishing flower shop, though now she managed the gardens, which were a project. She was out there every day, rain or shine. But Prue seemed to be a lady of leisure.
I’d never asked, because I’d never dealt with people remotely like the Talyns.
Though, I would admit that I assumed all three of them just lived off The Downs and frittered away their days doing whatever.
“Are Scotty and Harry security?” I inquired.
